- What is a shared medical appointment?
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Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are an innovative, interactive method of health care where 8-20 persons meet for ~90 minutes with a doctor or other medical provider. SMAs are preferred by patients, and SMAs help prevent disease complications and hospitalizations. The SMA is interactive, dynamic, and fun. Extra time gives participants the opportunity to ask all of their questions and learn healthy habits and facts about diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, and other diseases. Participants also learn from others in the group who have similar health concerns.
- Why are shared medical appointments a potentially superior model of health care delivery?
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Research shows with shared medical appointments:
- Improved patient satisfaction
- Improved physician satisfaction
- Better access to physician appointments
- Decreased hospitalizations and emergency room use
- Superior outcomes (e.g., better diabetes control, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, less premature births, etc.)
- More compliance with chronic disease and preventive care guidelines
- Higher productivity
- Cost-savings in capitated systems
- What is the history of shared medical appointments?
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Shared medical appointment models have been used for over 25 years. Frustration with the medical system was the spark for the creation of 3 common models of SMAs. Newer SMA models focus on patient-centered health care and preventive medicine, which are not always possible in the current medical system.
- What research supports use of shared medical appointments?
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Research shows with shared medical appointments:
- Improved patient satisfaction
- Improved physician satisfaction
- Better access to physician appointments
- Decreased hospitalizations and emergency room use
- Superior outcomes (e.g., better diabetes control, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, less premature births, etc.)
- More compliance with chronic disease and preventive care guidelines
- Higher productivity
- Cost-savings in capitated systems
- What is a plant-based diet?
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Simply, plant-based diets include the overwhelming majority of food items from plant sources. Plant-based diets often lead to weight loss or weight maintenance, and less chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Fruits, vegetables, grains, beans/legumes are the four plant-based food groups. Vegetarian and vegan diets are plant-based diets, but plant-based diets can include some animal products (meat, eggs, and diary). People who consume plant-based diets are generally healthier than those who eat a typical meat-based diet.
- Why is nutrition and lifestyle counseling provided in a group setting?
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Nutrition and lifestyle counseling is based upon the successful models of shared medical appointments (SMAs). SMAs are an innovative, interactive method of health care where 8-20 persons typically meet for ~90 minutes with a doctor or other medical provider. Patients prefer SMAs because the group environment is interactive, dynamic, and fun. In addition, SMAs prevent disease complications and hospitalizations. The group environment allows for more time to be spent asking questions and learning healthy habits to help prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and being overweight. Participants also learn and get support from others in the group who have similar health concerns.
- Why is nutrition and lifestyle counseling provided over 6 or more weeks?
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Changing habits and moving to a healthier diet and exercise routine takes time and needs support. The group environment is highly supportive and educational, and allows participants to build friendships and a team approach to success.
- What is the history of shared nutrition and lifestyle counseling?
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Brent Jaster, MD, is a board certified family physician whose passion is to use nutrition and lifestyle modification to prevent and treat disease. During medical training he realized how little education is dedicated to preventing illness. Instead, training in the United States focuses on treating illness and trying to prevent complications or death from those illnesses. Insurance companies will not generally reimburse doctors who help patients to prevent disease. Dr. Jaster knew that in order to practice his passion and maximally impact patients’ health he needed to create an innovative medical practice—JasterHealth.
Dr. Jaster has expertise and experience with shared medical appointments (SMAs), and familiarity using groups to teach diabetes research participants a plant-based diet. Through shared nutrition and lifestyle counseling he can help reverse the illness trend in the United States health care system. Why wait to treat disease with expensive medicine and technology, and not fix the root problem of disease? JasterHealth’s shared nutrition and lifestyle counseling will provide supportive education for participants to promote and maintain health.
- What is a family physician?
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Family physicians, after completing a university degree, attend 4 years of medical school and complete a 3 year internship/residency in Family Medicine. Training includes medical care for the entire lifecycle (birth to death). Family physicians can provide care to the whole family unit, and view the patient as a whole. For example, cardiologists only treat the heart, and pulmonologists only treat the lungs. Family physicians strive to provide a patient-centered medical home, and will coordinate care when the patient needs a referral to medical specialists.
Some doctors call themselves general practitioners and family doctors, but have not necessarily completed additional family medicine training.
- When do shared nutrition and lifestyle counseling series occur?
- What is the cost of JasterHealth services?
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JasterHealth services vary in price. Request a specific service and get pricing.
Special consideration will be given to individuals, groups and organizations who have limited financial resources.
Individuals receiving shared nutrition and lifestyle counseling will find the rates affordable relative to the typical copayment required for 8 minutes (average) of face-to-face time with a doctor.
Community organizations can tailor the group size to reach a target price per participant.
Consultation costs for shared medical appointment implementation in clinics, community health centers, hospitals, or health care entities vary based on the level of service and size of the organization.
Wellness program prices are based upon the size of the business or corporation and the extent of the services provided.
